Wednesday, 7 August 2013

Off into Wilderness

There's a difference between the imagined
version of a trip, and the reality: primarily in that in the imagined version,
we see only the end result – getting to the destination - rather than the time spent
packing and travelling. We look forward to the arrival, trying to peer over and
beyond the logistical planning required to get us there. But behind every
brilliant holiday there is probably an evening of frantically running around shrieking “I can’t find any matching clean socks!”

When going to a music festival, the
forethought required ramps up a notch. Tent? Sleeping bag? Cash? Tickets? Ample
dressing up materials? All sorts of small things become very important: the
pump needed to blow up mattresses, or that easily losable small wind-up torch
that you know was kept in the drawer of the dresser in the hall, but has gone
missing just when needed. Bags are plumped out and the car is filled.
Everything required for living in a field for three days must be accounted for.

Luckily it’s rather easy to forget this
rush once it’s done. It gets brushed aside. There might be the slightest of
inverse echoes post-event when sorting out muddy boots and dirty laundry. But
these are just like the book ends scaffolding the main experience. Necessary
but not worth dwelling on.

In this instance, that main event is Wilderness Festival. I've spent this week in preparation for a magnificent-looking few
days of music, food, theatre and literary events. I have amassed my outfits:
velvet mini-dresses, spangled shrugs, silk camisoles, sturdy shorts,
translucent fabrics. Underpinning each of these layered looks there’ll be a
pair of Hunter wellies – an Original short pair in chocolate and a long orange Headliner
pair (pictured here). As long as I can both tramp and dance, I’ll be content.

It’s hard to pull out a definitive list of
favourites from the line-up, but things I can’t wait for include seeing singer
Sam Lee, eating foraged food for Sunday lunch in the St John Dining Tent,
popping across to the Idler Academy stage and swimming in the lakes. A great
array of sounds, sights and activities await.

In anticipation of festival-style costumes, my clothes above are a rag-tag mix of second hand silk and linen. All are from charity shops apart from the vintage turban-style hat, which is a rather dazzling Christian Dior number. It was originally owned by my mum's late Great Aunt Violet (which is just the sort of name for someone in possession of a silk Dior turban).

If people in Vancouver dressed for the wilderness like you do, I'd have to keep my big trap shut. Never break up with Hunter - he not only makes fab footwear but sends you to fantastic artsy fests in the wild. If you do give him the boot, send him my way, I'll break it to O gently. I sometimes like the journey more than the destination. I'm thrilled by places of transition such as airports, hotel lobbies. I love your Dior turban. "Dance and tramp"!

Have a fun time at the Festival! I am packing this morning for a trip of my own- my favorite cousin's getting married and it's sort of a camping trip- trying to pack for both cuteness and practicality!

Your description of wonderful outfit selections sounds perfect for such an artful event. I think I still have my green wellies that I used to wear going about my parent's garden. I love the bold colour in your outfit, as well as the beautiful styling. And, the festival sounds amazing! /Madison :-)

Great Aunt Violet had great taste. And so do you! I love the outfits and photographs from this and your other post with Flo. I can't say I've ever been cool enough to attend a music festival, but can imagine how the infectious the revelry is. Fabulous outfits! - J xx